People who threaten suicide.

My psychology professor put up a question today asking us whether or not we believed that people who threatened suicide are likely to actually do it. Most people in our class said no. They didnt believe that people who threaten suicide truly mean to do it; the general consensus was that these people are purely attention seekers with no means of following through.

My professor had a different opinion though. She believed that those people are extremely desperate, and that if they're willing as to go as far as threatening something that big, they're willing to actually do it.

What do you think? Has anyone ever had any experience with this? Would you actually tell the authorities, or someone else in charge if someone you knew threatened suicide? What if you knew this was a person who made threats all the time and wasnt taken seriously...what would you do?

First off, I think your prof was playing devils advocate to try to get everyone to think. Professors will never give you their opionion.

Second, I believe most people who threaten suicide won't actually do it and are seeking attention. I think if I heard someone threaten suicide and they were very upset, I would tell someone. They may not go through with it but they are apparently going through a hard time that needs to be addressed and they need to see a dr.

Unfortunately, you can't always tell with everyone. I think you should always take any threat of suicide seriously, that way even if it turns out they are just doing it for attention, at least you tried to do something.

@iamthewalrus Said My psychology professor put up a question today asking us whether or not we believed that people who threatened suicide are likely to actually do it. Most people in our class said no. They didnt believe that people who threaten suicide truly mean to do it; the general consensus was that these people are purely attention seekers with no means of following through.

My professor had a different opinion though. She believed that those people are extremely desperate, and that if they're willing as to go as far as threatening something that big, they're willing to actually do it.

What do you think? Has anyone ever had any experience with this? Would you actually tell the authorities, or someone else in charge if someone you knew threatened suicide? What if you knew this was a person who made threats all the time and wasnt taken seriously...what would you do?

I've thought of this many many times. For the most of what I have come across, those that threaten suicide are just wanting the attention. Every which way you turn your head, someone else is threatening to kill themselves. I'm starting to believe it's a part of growing up.
I believe that if someone was actually at the point where they were able to kill them self that they are not going to tell everyone about it. They will just do it.

I understand that there is a bit of desperation in their pursuit of attention, and that needs to be met to a certain point. I feel that if they don't get some type of attention, they are more apt to making an actual attempt at ending their life.

my naybor has been thretaning to kill himself for months. he atemped suiside 2 months ago (jumped out of his building window) he survived, but had to go to a spych. word. he got back 2 weeks ago. other than that i have known manny people who have thretened suiside and comited it.

@iamthewalrus Said My psychology professor put up a question today asking us whether or not we believed that people who threatened suicide are likely to actually do it. Most people in our class said no. They didnt believe that people who threaten suicide truly mean to do it; the general consensus was that these people are purely attention seekers with no means of following through.

My professor had a different opinion though. She believed that those people are extremely desperate, and that if they're willing as to go as far as threatening something that big, they're willing to actually do it.

What do you think? Has anyone ever had any experience with this? Would you actually tell the authorities, or someone else in charge if someone you knew threatened suicide? What if you knew this was a person who made threats all the time and wasnt taken seriously...what would you do?

Whenever anyone threatens suicide, they should always, always be taken seriously; if not just to be on the safe side.
Whether they would actually do it or not it is a cry for help.

Much depends too on the circumstances surrounding the situation.
Alot of threats are sometimes attempts at manipulating a person, or situation.

If they threaten they obviously need some type of help and are asking for it in a sick sort of way which is better than my friend who never threatened. He just did it. So dont judge, just be glad you have the chance to help.

@forget_about_me Said Unfortunately, you can't always tell with everyone. I think you should always take any threat of suicide seriously, that way even if it turns out they are just doing it for attention, at least you tried to do something.

This is my comment to a T. Agreed!

Never shrug off a suicide threat, you may not be able to handle the guilt if they do it and you thinking it was all for the attention only.

My psychology professor put up a question today asking us whether or not we believed that people who threatened suicide are likely to actually do it. Most people in our class said no. They didnt believe that people who threaten suicide truly mean to do it; the general consensus was that these people are purely attention seekers with no means of following through.

My professor had a different opinion though. She believed that those people are extremely desperate, and that if they're willing as to go as far as threatening something that big, they're willing to actually do it.

What do you think? Has anyone ever had any experience with this? Would you actually tell the authorities, or someone else in charge if someone you knew threatened suicide? What if you knew this was a person who made threats all the time and wasnt taken seriously...what would you do?

I can tell you from personal experience that many people who eventually carry out a suicide do give hints to people that they are considering it - including talking about it as an option.
People who commit suicide do so because living is too painful. Getting up in the morning and breathing in and out, and thinking, is too painful.
People who make threats all the time need to be helped. Just considering suicide in conversation with someone else as an option generally means you are in a pretty bad place emotionally.
I believe many people dismiss threats or signs of suicide because they don't believe that person's problems are genuine enough. They will often think "but she has such a great job/a great family/a great life."
In my experience, it is people who threaten suicide, and then suddenly become happy and carefree who you need to watch out for the most. Suicidal people who finally decide on a method and place/time can appear almost cured of depression to others. It is often because they have found a solution to end their pain that they seem so okay.

People who talk about committing suicide aren't always attention seekers. people who want to do it are people who have issues with life, they have problems with their coping skills and don't know what else to do. sometimes it seems like the only way out is to kill yourself. statistically speaking, women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to succeed. the main tool used by men to commit suicide are guns and by women are drugs. even if you think that someone might not really commit it, you shouldn't just shrug it off. people who want to commit suicide really have no desire to die, but also have no desire to live either. they're just waiting for the small nudge that sends them over the edge. suicide is something that shouldn't be ignored.

I think that any threat should be taken seriously because you just never know. The mere fact that a person has threatened means that they need some kind of help, be it psychological or attention. There's no question that there are both cases out there so why take the chance?

I think people say they are going to kill themselves because they are looking for someone to give them hope.

personally? I don't think, if I was going to kill myself I would tell anyone.

But I think if you ever hear anyone mention killing themselves(even if they are attention whores), no matter what, if it's not just being goofy, be serious about it, be there for them, or tell someone. I mean, I'd feel awful, if I didn't believe someone and then, the next day they were gone.

Threats of suicide should never be taken lightly; even if you think you can't help, get that person help anyway that you can.
It recently happened to me and I wanted to ignore it; but something told me not to. I couldn't help; but got friends to help. Whether he does this in the future; I'll never know. If I hadn't gotten involved at the time the guilt and loss would have been overwelming. He made it through that bout.This threat needs monitoring and counseling; someone that desperate for attention has a mental illness, you can't ignore that.
Some of the thoughts of a suicidal person may be:
Things are getting worse and worse for me.
I think I'm worthless
No one would miss me if I were dead.
My memory is shot.
I make too many mistakes.
By and large I think I'm a failure.
Lately I can't make decisions.
I don't look forward to much of anything.
The world would be a better place without me.
Basically, I'm pessimistic about things.
I can't think of anything that sounds interesting or enjoyable.
My life is full of regrets.
I don't see my life as ever getting any better.
I'm deeply ashamed of myself.

We all have the thoughts for fleeting moments, the suicidal person has been dwelling on them. The only recourse is a crisis hotline and good therapeutic counseling.
NEVER IGNORE!!!!